Man Pack Antennas
Antennas for Light Vehicles
Antennas for Armoured Vehicles
Cobham Antenna Systems
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Electronic Warfare Antennas
Microwave Antennas
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Electronic Warfare
Electronic Warfare
Electronic Warfare (EW) is the use and denial of
the RF spectrum to the enemy.
It encompasses long term tactical electronic
Intelligence Gathering (ELINT) and the
immediate protection of high value assets such
as aircraft and ships. In modern warfare the
protection of vehicles and foot-soldier from RF
activated IEDs is critical.
EW has two distinct branches:
• receiving and analysing the threat signal
• countering the threat signal by transmitting a
high power jamming signal.
The likely source and nature of the threat
is understood for any specific theatre of
operation, but the systems have to respond
instantaneously over a wide range of
frequencies for both transmit and receive.
All antennas used in EW systems must have
wide, instantaneous bandwidth.
Ultra wideband omni and directional antennas
can be used for systems for foot-soldier to
ship-borne and from land-vehicle to helicopter.
Having detected RF signals associated with
threats (missile, radar or IED), one possible
evasive action is to deny use of the RF spectrum
by countering (jamming) with appropriate levels
(1 to 500 Watts) of microwave energy at the
same frequencies.
If the location of the threat is known a
directional high power, high gain antenna
would be most appropriate. If the direction is
unknown then an omni antenna would provide
360° blanket coverage.
A pair of phase matched
cavity-backed spiral antennas
PSA0218L/1333
Antennas - Ultra Wideband Antennas: Omni, Multi-stacked Omni,
Cavity Backed and High Power Planar Spiral Antennas
2
Biconical omnis are fully efficient, vertically
polarised broadband antennas.
Depending on design, bandwidths from 3:1
to 30:1 are achievable. Multi-stacked omnis
can offer versatile configurations to counter
multiple threats.
Ultra Wideband Omni
Directional, ultra wideband, high power,
circular polarised antennas are available with
bandwidths up to 30:1. This range is expanding
with new developments to meet customers’
deployment requirements.
High Power Planar Spiral Antennas
A planar spiral antenna
with 100W power, 0.15 to
3GHz, PSA-50200-LP/1211
As RF sources and amplifiers used for jamming
are developed to cover wider bands at higher
power, it is important that appropriate antennas
are developed in parallel. The antennas must be
wide-open, covering all specified bands without
the need for tuning. For omni antennas peak
gain must be on the horizon at all frequencies,
they must be small enough to be used by foot
soldiers and rugged for vehicle applications,
with high efficiency to extend battery life.
Cobham Antenna Systems, Microwave
Antennas has developed a portfolio of ultra
wideband omni and directional (planar spiral)
antennas in the range 100MHz to 18GHz to
cover all of the bands in which high power
amplifiers currently operate.
Cavity Backed Spirals
High fidelity cavity backed spirals for traditional
EW direction finding systems. Phase and
amplitude matching available.
Ultra Wideband antenna,
0.8to 6 GHz,
XPO2V-0.8-6.0/1485
Multi stacked
Omni antenna
High Power Planar Spiral Antennas
High Power Planar Spiral Antennas
The flat-panel, reflector-backed spiral has no
absorber so it can handle up to 100Watts, fully
efficiently, with up to 8dBi peak gain, giving an
impressive level of EIRP for Countermeasures.
Like their receive-only cavity-backed spiral
counterparts, the reflector-spiral antenna
provides circular polarisation which can
have benefits in many scenarios where the
polarisation of the threat signal is unknown.
Very wide bandwidths of 10:1 and more have
been achieved with better than 10dB return
loss and without tuning circuits. Products
working down to 150MHz have been developed
(900mm/36inches square) with the low
frequency response being directly proportional
to the dimensions of the antenna.
Where it may be useful to provide signal in
opposite directions simultaneously (peanut-
shaped) from one structure, a variation of the
planar spiral is one which is bi-directional. In
this structure the peak of beam is from both flat
faces of the antenna simultaneously and the
gain is 3dB lower than for the equivalent size
reflector-spiral, but remains just as efficient.
The planar spiral also has uses for multi-band
communications in commercial applications
such as in-building Distributive Antenna
Systems (DAS) for cellular, WiMAX and
emergency services.
High power spiral element
Balun
Spiral
Connector
Antenna Frequency Gain Beamwidth Polarisation Dimensions Connector Power Photo GHz dBi Az° El° mm W +
UWBA15300/1221 0.15 - 3.00 -2 to +8 60 60 Right Circular 705x671x36 N(F) 100 +
PES-200-500-NC/581 0.20 - 1.00 2 n/a n/a Dual Circular 560x372x34 N(F) 200 +
PSA-50200-LP/1211 0.50 - 3.00 8 70 60 Right Circular 490x365x30 N(F) 100 +
UWBA15300/1221 PES-200-500-NC/581
3
High power planar spiral antenna mounted
under vehicle provide countermeasures
Section view through
planar spiral
4
Electronic Warfare
Ultra-wideband Omni-directional antennas
Azimuth Pattern
The measured azimuth pattern shown for XPO2V-0.8-
6.0-GF/1441 demonstrates very low azimuth ripple,
which is essential to ensure maximum area protection
Elevation Pattern
The measured elevation pattern shown for OA2-0.3-
10.0V/1505 demonstrates that the peak gain is on the
horizon and remains so across all frequencies
True biconical element
provides up to 30:1
frequency bandwidth
Hybrid bicone has smaller
diameter than bicone,
and up to 5:1 frequency
bandwidth
Biconical omnis are fully efficient, vertically
polarised broadband antennas which have
1-3dBi gain across the band with low azimuth
ripple and typical elevation beamwidths of 60°.
This provides excellent coverage whatever the
orientation of the vehicle or man-pack. Being
centre-fed and ground-plane independent, the
peak gain is on the horizon across all bands
so that high power can be delivered where
needed.
Multi-stacked Omni-directional antennas - New feed-through technology allows multiple antennas to be co-located, saving space and shadowing
- Overlapping frequencies for multiple applications
- High isolation between bands
- 200W per band simultaneously
- Good return loss across all bands
- Optional spring with NATO mount
Biconical antennas can be
configured to have bandwidths
up to 30:1. At lower frequencies
the diameter becomes
disproportionately larger, so the
slimmer hybrid-bicones can be
used which have bandwidths up
to 5:1.
- Frequencies from 100MHz to 18GHz
- Ground plane independent
- Vertically polarised
- Elevation HPBW typically 60°
- Typically 1 to 3dBi gain across the band
- Excellent azimuth ripple
- High power
- Peak gain on horizon across bandwidth
To cover very wide bands without obvious
frequency gaps, “Feed-Through” technology
has been developed which allows several
wideband omni antennas to be ‘stacked’ so that
they may be designed into a single housing.
A stacked omni will have a single mounting
point on a vehicle, saving space and reducing
the shadowing of one antenna with another.
Bicone Omni antennas
As a bonus, high isolation between antennas
allows systems with the capability of providing
overlapping frequencies to target multiple
threats without self-jamming.
Left to right
XPO2V-2.0-18.0/1397 XPO2V-0.8-6.0GF/1441
Ultra Wideband Omni Antennas
XPO2V-0.8-6.0-GF/1441
5
100MHz 500MHz 1GHz 2GHz 5GHz 10GHz 20GHz
OA2-0.3-1.0V/1530
OA2-0.3-10.0V/1505
XPO2V-500-1300/1351
XPO2V-0.8-6.0-GF/1441
XPO2V-880-2175/1060
XPO2V-880-2175/1350
XPO2V-1.0-6.0/1442
XPO2V-1150-1650/1036
XPO2V-1650-3000/1354
XPO2V-1710-2175/1007
XPO2V-2.0-18.0/1397
OA2-0.1-0.5V/1534
Omni Antenna Matrix - Single and Multi-stacked
XPO2V-150-600/148
XPO2V-880-2175/1350
XPO2V-500-1300/1351
XPO2V-1710-2175/1007
XPO2V-1150-1650/1036
XPO2V-880-2175/1060
XPO2V-1650-3000/1354
XPO2V-2.0-18.0/1397
XPO2V-1.0-6.0/1442
XPO2V-0.8-6.0-GF/1441
OA2-0.3-10.0V/1505
Antenna Frequency Gain Beamwidth Polarisation Dimensions Connector Power Photo GHz dBi Az° El° mm W +OA2-0.1-0.5V/1534 0.13 - 0.50 0 (<200)
2 (>200) 360 60 Vertical 855x104 Ø N(F) 50
XPO2V-150-600/148 0.15 - 0.60 2 360 80 Vertical 805x155 Ø N(F) 250
OA2-0.3-1.0V/1530 0.30 - 1.00 2 360 60 Vertical 472x104 Ø N(F) 50
OA2-0.3-10.0V/1505 0.30 - 10.0 2 360 65 Vertical 305x161 Ø N(F) 100 +
XPO2V-500-1300/1351 0.50 - 1.30 2 360 80 Vertical 338x108 Ø N(F) 100 +
XPO2V-0.8-6.0-GF/1441 0.80 - 6.00 2 360 75 Vertical 143x108 Ø N(F) 100 +
XPO2V-0.8-6.0/1485 0.80 - 6.00 2 360 75 Vertical 143x108 Ø N(F) 100 +
XPO2V-880-2175/1060 0.88 - 2.17 2 360 50 Vertical 221x31 Ø N(F) 50 +
XPO2V-880-2175/1350 0.88 - 2.17 2.5 360 50 Vertical 344x36 Ø N(F) 50 +
XPO2V-1.0-6.0/1442 1.00 - 6.00 2 360 70 Vertical 134x59 Ø N(F) 100 +
XPO2V-1150-1650/1036 1.15 - 1.65 2 360 70 Vertical 249x25 Ø N(M) 25 +
XPO2V-1650-3000/1354 1.65 - 3.00 2 360 80 Vertical 253x25 Ø N(F) 50 +
XPO2V-1710-2175/1007 1.70 - 2.17 3 360 50 Vertical 147x26 Ø N(F) 50 +
XPO2V-2.0-18.0/1397 2.00 - 18.00 2 360 70 Vertical 104x39 Ø N(F) 50 +
XPO2V-4.0-18.0/1382 4.00 - 18.00 2 360 60 Vertical 78x26 Ø N(F) 40
Ultra-wideband Omni-directional antennas
Some of the standard ultra wideband omni antennas that form the cornerstone of multi-stacked omnis and new development projects
Omni antennas on light vehicles for army patrols
Ultra Wideband Omni Antennas
6
Electronic Warfare
Cavity-Backed Spiral Antennas - Receive only
The spiral is mounted at the front of a cavity
which is filled with RF absorbing material to
ensure that internal reflections, which could
corrupt the forward-looking radiation patterns,
are nullified.
It is important that cavity–backed spiral
antennas provide a high level of fidelity from
one antenna to another and therefore critical
components are sourced from the same batch,
with antennas manufactured and tested in
batches.
To provide accurate direction finding (DF),
an array of spiral antennas (usually 4, 6 or 8),
each with 60-90° beamwidths are arranged to
provide 360° coverage.
The antennas in a DF system must be phase
and/or amplitude matched across the range of
frequencies (for example 2-18GHz). This means
that all spiral antennas used for this type of
application must be fully characterized (at 10
to 100 frequencies) and grouped into matched
batches.
High accuracy phase and amplitude
measurement is carried out in the company’s
spherical anechoic test chamber.
Many of our standard cavity-backed spirals may
be used in DF systems, covering bands from
300MHz to 20GHz, for a variety of platforms
including UAVs, helicopters, sub-sonic aircraft
and terrestrial systems. Special frequencies and
functions can be incorporated into designs for
new applications.Radome
Spiral element
Housing (cavity)
Absorber
Balun
Connector
Wide band cavity-backed spirals (10) showing better
than 0.4dB amplitude matching over wide beamwidth
Wideband cavity backed spirals (10) at 3.5GHz showing
better than 10° phase matching over ±30° in azimuth
The cavity-backed spiral is the traditional
antenna that provides very wide bandwidth,
circular polarization and high fidelity monotonic
patterns and is the mainstay of an EW
direction-finding system for instantaneous
threat analysis.
The spiral element comprises two parallel
transmission lines formed into a planar spiral
which are fed via a broadband balun, usually
at the centre point of the spiral. The highest
frequency of the spiral is determined by the
fineness of the feed structure at the centre of
the spiral, whilst the lowest usable frequency is
determined by its diameter.
Cavity-Backed Spiral Antennas - Receive only Omni antennas on armoured vehicles
7
Cavity-Backed Spiral Antennas - Receive only
PSA45010R/356 0.42 - 1.00,
1.70 - 1.90 6 90 90 Right Circular 205x374 Ø N(F) 50
PSA7530L/1147 0.50 - 3.00 1 (0.5) 70 70
4-6 (1-3) 90 90 Left Circular 79x240 Ø SMA(F) 90°∞ 2-5
PSA75301R/170 0.50 - 3.00 4 to 6 70 90 Right Circular 57x246 Ø SMA(F) 90°∞ 5 +
PSA-8025R/707 0.80 - 2.50 4.5 - 8 65 65 Right Circular 48x220 Ø N(F) 25
PSA10401L/1169 1.00 - 4.00 4-6 90 90 Left Circular 42x150 Ø N(F) 20
PSA1040R/1366 1.00 - 4.00 -5 to +7.5 75 75 Right Circular 80x100 Ø SMA(F) 5
PSA10401R/643 1.00 - 4.00 6 90 90 Right Circular 76x150 Ø N(F) 20
PSA0218L/1501 2.00 - 18.00 0 75 75 Left Circular 40x51 Ø SMA(F) 5
PSA0218R/1142 2.00 - 18.00 0 75 57 Right Circular 40x51 Ø SMA(F) 5 +
PSA0218L/1276 2.00 - 18.00 1(2-4)
2(4-18) 75 75 Left Circular 39x61 Ø SMA(F) 2-5 varies across band +
PSA0218R/1277 2.00 - 18.00 -1 to +2 75 75 Right Circular 65x68 Ø SMA(F) 2-5 varies across band
PSA0218R/1278 2.00 - 18.00 -1 to +2 75 75 Right Circular 39x62 Ø SMA(F) 2-5 varies across band
PSA0218L/1084 2.00 - 18.00 -3 to +2 75 75 Left Circular 65x68 Ø SMA(F) 2-5 varies across band +
PSA0218L/1361 2.00 - 18.00 -4 to +2 75 75 Left Circular 59x61 Ø N(F) 2-5, varies across band +
PSA0218L/1333 2.00 - 18.00 -4 to +2 75 75 Left Circular 51x61 Ø SMA(F) 2-5 varies across band p-2
PSA0218R/1360 2.00 - 18.00 -4 to +2 75 75 Right Circular 51x61 Ø SMA(F) 2-5, varies across band
PSA0218R/1362 2.00 - 18.00 -4 to +2 75 75 Right Circular 51x61 Ø N(F) 2-5, varies across band
PSA0818L/1045 8.00 - 18.00 4 90 90 Left Circular 21x24 Ø SMA(F) 1 +
PSA0818R/1308 8.00 - 18.00 4 90 90 Right Circular 21x24 Ø SMA(F) 1
Antenna Frequency Gain Beamwidth Polarisation Dimensions Connector Power Photo GHz dBi Az° El° mm W +
PSA75301R/170 PSA0218R/1142 PSA0218L/1276 PSA0218L/1084 PSA0218L/1361 PSA0818L/1045
Cavity-Backed Spiral Antennas - Receive only
Chelton Limited trading as Cobham Antenna SystemsCobham Antennas EW Issue 1, 2011-05
©Chelton Limited
Chelton Limited has a policy of continuous development and stress that the information
provided is a guide only and does not constitute an offer or contract or part thereof.
Whilst every effort is made to ensure the accuracy of the information contained in this
brochure, no responsibility can be accepted for any errors or omissions.
All photography is protected by copyright and is used with thanks to the respective owners.
www.cobham.com/antennasystems/microwaveantennas
Cobham Antenna Systems
M: Cobham Antenna Systems, Lambda HouseCheveley, Newmarket, Suffolk CB8 9RG, UK
T: +44 (0)1638 732177F: +44 (0)1638 731999 E: [email protected]
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BROCHURES
IED Countermeasures
2012 Catalogue
C-Band Radar Systems
Ground ControlAntenna TestingTotal Capability Electronic Warfare Body Worn